SCHOLARSHIPS
APPLICATIONS

Year-round residents of Martha’s Vineyard who are twelfth-graders at Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School, or Falmouth Academy are eligible to apply. Students who have been home-schooled on Martha’s Vineyard are also eligible. Students attending boarding schools are not eligible.

To be considered for a scholarship, an applicant must need supplementary financial assistance to attend his or her college of choice. The applicant’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC) must be less than the full Cost of Attendance at the applicant’s chosen college or university.

• Academic performance: The applicant’s high school transcript shows both high achievement and also consistent enrollment in challenging academic courses. This criterion is assessed quantitatively using a formula that, for each student, considers both achievement level and course difficulty across the four years of high school.

• Educational skills: The application demonstrates the student’s commitment to developing and refining important academic skills, especially in critical thinking and in content areas of special interest to the student. This criterion also assesses the student’s readiness for college-level achievement and workload. For students who have taken the SAT, these scores can help to indicate proficiency in important academic skills.

• Evidence of skills in self-expression and critical thinking: The applicant’s essay responses in the application demonstrate skills in self-expression and critical thinking, while also enabling reviewers to get to know the student more fully.

• Educational ambition and perseverance: The application articulates the student’s longer-term educational goals and explains the steps that she or he is taking to achieve those goals.

• Capacity to overcome adversity: The applicant’s personal experiences indicate an ability and drive to rise above limitations imposed by adverse circumstances.

• Creativity and individuality: The applicant conveys a capacity to articulate unique perspectives on his or her experiences or surroundings. The applicant also demonstrates a capacity for creative approaches to complex circumstances.

• Empathy: In school, at home, or in the community, the applicant demonstrates skills in acting effectively in support of others, especially those experiencing hardship.

• Demonstration of school values: As assessed by school faculty and combined into a composite score for each student, this criterion measures the extent to which the applicant’s behaviors and attitudes are consistent with the school’s values and thereby demonstrate the capacity to make sound personal decisions. MVRHS core values are resilience, compassion, accountability, curiosity, and community. MVPCS pillars are trust, respect, freedom, responsibility, democracy, and cooperation. Falmouth Academy values are knowledge, collaboration, kindness, relationships, imagination, and diverse challenges and opportunities.

• Engagement in arts or sports: The applicant displays sustained participation and skills in his or her chosen artistic and/or athletic pursuits. Students performing at high levels on this criterion can point to specific, noteworthy accomplishments in arts or sports.

• Employment: The applicant demonstrates sound judgment in employment. For students whose families experience significant economic hardship, good judgment may mean employment that maximizes cash income over time. For other students, good judgment may mean choosing employment that advances the student’s long-term educational, artistic, athletic, or other interests.

• Engagement in service: The applicant demonstrates sustained participation and skills in service to others. Students performing at high levels on this criterion can point to specific, noteworthy accomplishments. Service examples include improvement efforts on behalf of the school or island community, protection of the natural environment, and actions to improve the lives of individuals and groups experiencing discrimination, disability, or other hardship.

• Leadership: Outside the classroom, the applicant’s actions and accomplishments demonstrate an ability to influence and guide others in important undertakings.